Loose leaf binder



1934- J. R. RITZINGER 1,960,280

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 10, 1952 Z3 Z2 INVENTOR. 0/0/1/7 ,Q FIZZ/Myer A TTORNEY.

Patented May 29, 1934 LOOSE LEAF BINDER John R. Ritzinger, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, III., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 10, 1932, Serial No. 632,575

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder and more particularly to a binder of the compression type having covers which may be ad- J'usted to accommodate difierent thicknesses of sheets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder having a pair of separable back sections that may be easily aligned and compressed to fit the contents of the binder. It

is a further object of this invention to provide readily releasable means for preventing accidental separation of the back sections of the loose leaf binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and eificient means for uniting the cover sections and sheet holding prongs to the back section of the binder. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the binder with parts broken away to facilitate illustration of the structure;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the back members and its associated locking slide, with a portion of one end of the back section cut away to facilitate illustration of the structure;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the structure illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of one end of the other back section;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line VI-VI 35 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail of one end of the locking slide;

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line'VIII-- VIII of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a detail perspective of one of the sheet holding prongs.

In the drawing the reference numerals 2 and 3 represent a pair of telescoping back sections. The section 2 has its ends bent over as indicated 45 at 4 and 5. The ends 4 and 5 are apertured as indicated at 6 and 7 respectively. The end portions 4 and 5 of the back section 2 are spaced from the body portion of said back section to accommodate a bar or locking slide 8 which is 50 removably secured to said back section 2. These bent over portions 4 and 5 act as retaining flanges in the retention of the slide 8 in desired position. If desired, separate retaining members could be attached to the back member 2 to serve as substitutes for the bent over portions 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 2, the bar 8 is bowed slightly at its center to provide a space between each end of the bar 8 and the body portion of the back section 2. These spaces 9 and 10 facilitate the positioning of the back section 3 with 0 respect to the back section 2 and the locking bar or slide 8. Either end of the back section 3 may be readily inserted into the desired space 9 or 10, and then the entering longitudinal edge of the back section 3 acts as a, wedge which 5 causes the locking bar 8 to yield progressively to permit the proper positioning of the back section 3. The slight bow of the bar 8 which forms the spaces 9 and 10 also makes possible the attainment of other objectives that will be herein- 7 after described.

One end portion 11 of the locking bar or slide 8 is of reduced width so that it may project through the aperture 6 in one end of the back section 2. The width of this portion 11 approxi- 7 mates the width of the aperture 6 sufficiently close to eliminate the possibility of any undesirable lateral motion between the locking slide 3 and the back section 2. The end portion 11 is connected to the main body portion of the slide 8 by means of a tapered portion defined by a pair of shoulders 12. A finger piece 13 for manipulating the slide 8 is formed by bending the end of the reduced end portion 11 at an angle to the body portion of the slide.

The opposite end of the locking slide 8 is provided with a reduced portion 14 and a pair of shoulders 15. The end of the reduced portion 14 is bent at an angle to the locking slide 8, as indicated at 16. The height of the bent over portion 16 is approximately equal to the distance between the body portion of the back section 2 and the parallel portion of the turned over portion 5. The slight bow of the locking slide 8 maintains the end 16 in inter-engagement with the aperture '7, as shown in Figure 2.

The locking bar or slide 8 is slightly longer than the back section 2 and the shoulders 12 and 15 permit a slight longitudinal movement relative to the back section 2. The end portion 11 of the locking slide 8 is provided with a projection or boss 17 which cooperates with the turned over portion 4 of the back section 2 to maintain the slide 8 in either locking or unlocked position.

The locking slide 8 is of spring steel or similar material, and the slight bow of the slide 8 hereinbefore mentioned is sufficient to maintain the end portion 11 of the slide in constant contact with the turned up portion 4 of the back section 2. Accordingly, the projection 17 will prevent accidental movement of the slide in either direction, because each time such movement takes place the slide 8 must be depressed slightly to permit the projection 17 to pass under the edge of the turned over portion l of the back section 2. The locking bar or slide 8 may be easily removed from the back section 2 by pressing the end 16 down and moving it laterally from out of contact with the turned over portion 5.

The locking slide 8 is provided with a projection 18 at each end thereof. The back section 3 is provided with a plurality of projections 19 adapted to cooperate with the projectionslBto maintain the back section 3 in position. These projections are shown as beingstruck'out from the metal of the slide and back section, and this. method of formation is preferred because of its simplicity and economy. However, the projections could be formed in any simple manner as.

by embossing or crimping the metal, or by riveting or welding preformed strips of suitable shape to the slide 8 or back section 3. If desired, the

slide 8 may be provided with an aperture anda spring pressed tooth extending through the aperture to engage the projections 19 on the back section 3.

the slide 3 is sufficient to allow the projection 18 to be moved entirely out of interlocking engagement with the projections 19. The back of the binder may be closed by moving the slide 8 into locking positionand then compressing the back sections 2 and 3, or by compressing the back sections as far as possible when the slide 8 is in unlocked position and then moving the slide 8 to engage the projection 18 with one of the series of projections 19.

The projections 19 are preferably formed to extend at an angle of approximately 10 degreesto the longitudinal edges of the back section 3. Whenthe back sections are compressed before the slide 8 is moved to locking position, the pro jections 19 because of the angle at which'theyextend, act. as cams to guide the back sections into closer relationship so. as to compress the sheets to a greater extent than if the projections were parallel to the longitudinal edges of theback sections. It is preferred to form the projection 18 at an angle, as-shown in Figure '7, to:

increase the strength of the inter-engagement between the projections 18 and 19, butthis is not essential, and theprojection 18 may be formed of any desired shape. The inter-engagement of the projections 18 and 19 effectively prohibits the accidental separation of the back section 3 and the locking bar or slide 8.

Each back section has one longitudinal edge bent to form a double walled side member 20. Since both the side members are duplicates of each other, only one need be described. The side member 20 is provided with one or more apertures 21 at its apex. A prong member 22 is positioned so that its tine 23'projects through said aperture and its base portion 24 is retained between the two walls of the side. member'20. The

cover member 25 has one edge positioned between the two walls of the side member, 20, and then these side walls are clinched together to secure the cover member and the prong member permanently in position.

It is also possible if desired to substitute a plurality of projections for the single It is obvious that the prong members 22 could be secured to the back section in any suitable manner, but the method described is preferred because of its simplicity and eflicacy. The prong 22 may be of any suitable shape, but the flat prongs shown are preferred because this type of prongpermitsthe sheet 26 tolie flat when the book is open, without any appreciable waste at the inner margin of the sheet.

The assembly of the various elements of the binder is extremely simple. After the double walls constituting the side members have been clinched together to secure the cover members and prongsin, place,.the finger piece 13 of the locking bar orslide 8 is pushed through the aperture. 6'and thentheslide 8 is pivoted to bring it in a plane parallel to the back section 2. The slide;8"is then moved laterally until the turned up portion, 16 is under the aperture '7. When the slide is released its spring action forces the portion 16 into, engagement with the edges of the aperture '7. The sheets 26 are impaled on thetines 23 of theprongmembers 22. One end of the back section 3 is then inserted into either space 9 or 10, and then the rest of the-back section3 is positioned as the slide 8 progressively yields to the entering edge of the back section 3.

The inter-engagement of the projections 18- and 19 prevents the lateral separation of the back sections 2 and 3. When it is desired toremove or adda sheet to. the binder, the finger piece 13 is manipulatedso as to move theprojection 18 outof engagement withthe projections 19 so as to permit separation of theback section 3 from the binder. The projection 18 may be moved into its locking position either before or after the back section 3 is'reinserted in position. When the back section 3 is reinserted in position before the slide is. moved so as to bring the projection 18 into its locking position the full benefit of the camshape of the. projectionslQ-is attained. The peculiar arrangement ofthe projections 19. effects a guiding action on the projection 18 so asto facilitate the operative inter-engagement of the projections. It will be seen that the projection 18'can engage with any of the projections 19' depending upon, the thickness of the body portion of paper in the binder.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrativerather than restrictive as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted'to the exact construction described except as limited by the appended claims.

Lclaim:

' 1; In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a locking slide removably secured to said back section, a second back section, and means to secure said second back section between said first mentioned back section and said locking slide in a plurality of positions.

2. Ina loose leafbinder, a back section, said back section having a doublebend at its outer edge to providea relatively low, double walled,

3. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a plurality of retaining flanges on said back section, a locking slide retained in position by said flanges, a second back section, and means to secure said second back section between said first mentioned back section and said locking slide in a plurality of positions.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a looking slide, means on said back section for holding said locking slide in position, a second back section, and means to secure said second back section between said first mentioned back section and said locking slide in a plurality of positions.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having apertured, turned over end portions spaced from the body portion of said back section, a bar having its ends extending through said apertured end portions, the ends of said bar extending at an angle to its body portion whereby said bar is maintained in position, and a second back section adapted to be positioned between said bar and said first mentioned back section.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a bar removably secured to said back section, a projection on said bar, a second back section adapted to be positioned between said bar and said first mentioned back section, and a plurality of cam shaped projections on said second mentioned back section arranged to cooperate with said first mentioned projection to guide said bar into interlocking engagement with said second mentioned back section and to increase the compression between said back sections.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections, and a locking slide, said locking slide being bowed at its center and having its ends spaced slightly from the ends of one of said back sections, whereby said other back section may be readily positioned between said locking slide and said first mentioned back section.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having its ends bent to form retaining flanges, a bowed locking slide having its ends bent at right angles and retained by said retaining flanges, and a projection on said locking slide adapted to cooperate with one of said retaining flanges to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of said locking slide.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a slidable bar removably secured to said back section, means on said back section to limit longitudinal movement of said bar, a second back section adapted to be positioned between said first menticned back section and said bar, a plurality of projections on said second mentioned back section, and a projection on said bar movable into and out of interlocking engagement with said projections on said second mentioned back section, whereby said second mentioned back section may be held in, or released from, operative relationship with said first mentioned back section.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having a plurality of parallel projections struck out from the body of said back section, a second back section, a locking slide removably secured to said second back section, and a projection on said locking slide adapted to inter-engage with said projections on said first mentioned back section.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections, a locking slide removably secured to one of said back sections, a series of cam shaped projections struck out from the body of said other back section, and a projection on said locking slide adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said projections on said second mentioned back section.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having flanges at its opposite ends, a bar having its ends retained by said flanges, said bar having means at one end thereof for moving said bar longitudinally with respect to said back section, and means to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of said bar.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having flanges at its opposite ends, a bowed bar having its ends retained by said flanges, said bar being movable longitudinally with respect to said back section, and means on said bar adapted to cooperate with one of said flanges to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of said bar.

14. In a loose leaf binder, a three unit back construction including two back sections and a locking slide, one of said back sections having means to removably secure said locking slide thereto, said back sections being capable of lateral expansion within a substantial range without disassociation, said locking slide and said second back section having cooperating means to secure said second back section against expansion between said locking slide and said first mentioned back section at any point within said range of lateral expansion.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a three unit back construction including two telescoping back sections and a locking slide, one of said back sections having means to removably secure said locking slide thereto, said locking slide and said other back section having cooperating means to secure said other back section in position between said locking slide and said first mentioned back section, said other back section retaining its position between the first mentioned back section and the locking slide during expansion of the binder.

JOHN R. RITZINGER. 

